What did you do on your Vacation?

Dead Island was about to break the Zombie-Gaming Genre mold, and they needed to start that off before anyone had even purchased the game. Dead Island wasn’t like your typical Zombie-Killing Game, it was going to be a narrative, a story-driven game. As we have seen in recent months, Zombies are like the new Vampires, since Twilight destroyed all hope of Vampires staying a positive horror image a new monster needed to step up to the plate.

The Walking Dead, an AMC television show (and prior to that Graphic Novel) paved the way for Zombies to enter the consumers eye in a new light, Dead Island wasn’t going to let this oppourtunity pass it by. The Official Announcement Trailer for Dead Island is long for a video game trailer, but also very effective. It uses music with no dialogue, an emotional appeal created by the sad story of the vacationing family and it’s graphically appealing. Don’t take my word for it; turn up the volume, sit back and watch the majesty of this trailer.

Even as a very infrequent gamer I loved this, and reviews for the game show that for an innovator that could have potentially been before its time, it was a dead ringer for what the gaming community needed. Did you get pulled in by the tragic end to this innocent vacationing couple?

Skip This Ad Now

Is this the future of Video advertising? When is the last time you saw a commercial on Television? Well you are probably not quite like me so my guess is last night or this morning depending on when you are reading this blog post. My answer; the last time I saw an advertisement on Television…well the movies doesn’t count, I watch that show online, and … well it must have been a holiday…yes, I think when I was at my parents home for Xmas I watched some television and there must have been an advertisement on then.

You see I don’t pay for Cable or Satellite, I am not made of money, but I do have Netflix and most of my favourite shows air online on the company website so Television advertising almost never reaches me, but online video does. I can’t go more than a few days without winding up back on Youtube, infact I was about to watch a video as research for class and this advertisement came up, yes I can skip it, but it grabbed my attention right away, so I would grade that as effective.

Do you see online videos becoming the new norm for video advertising or it is where we also put commercials and trailers when we have finished with our Television Media Buying?

Second thought, have you ever chosen NOT to “Skip this ad now”?

My Top 5 for the 2012 Superbowl

Superbowl Ads; How did they rate this year?

My Top 5 for the 2012 Superbowl

M&M’s Just My Shell Commercial – LMFAO ‘Sexy and I Know It!’

Rating: B

Analysis: M&Ms used comedy and a very popular song to portray their new colour, which is actually an old colour as naked. It was an interesting and fun twist that had me craving some sexy naked chocolate. They voice of the Brown M&M was very professional and a ‘strong’ female presence which I respected though didn’t really enjoy and of course they used Red for some nice comic relief. Overall an advertisement I am going to remember everytime I am at the grocery line starring at the chocolate and snack selection.

VW’s The Dog Strikes Back Commercial – Star Wars

Rating: B+

Analysis: Not an over the top amazing commercial on its own, but the added spot in Cantina (a fictional alien bar on Tatooine) and Vader’s character defending the Mini Vader spot was the icing on the cake to keep VW as one of my top Superbowl commercials. I am loving the Star Wars – VW connection as a fan of both companies and the fact that as much as they are promoting specific cars in these spots they are also giving a fun and relatable personality to the brand.

It’s Halftime America: Clint Eastwood – Chrysler

Rating: A (A- for only being aired in America)

Analysis: A truly emotional piece. I was deeply sad that I watched a Canadian channel and missed the airing of this advertisement.  I do understand that it was targeted at Americans, and rightly so but it would have been a goosebump producing spot to have watching during the half time commercials on Sunday. Though anything Clint Eastwood says makes my heart pound, this was a truly inspiring speech.

FIAT 500 Abarth Commercial – Seduction

Rating: A

Analysis: Sex! What can I say, sex sells, and sex in another language is just wonderful! I loved this commercial, it caught everyone by surprise while we were watching the game and the combination of loving the commercial myself and watching how everyone at the event responded to it was just perfect. It was neat watching the men in the room react very similarly to the one on the screen. Great job FIAT and neat car!

Avengers Superbowl Ad – The Facebook Extended Feature

Rating: (A)

Analysis: What can I say, I am a comic book geek through and through but Marvel’s use of social media to enhance the experience was just perfect. I needed to go online to see the extended version, which you can’t search for unless you have the specific link from Facebook. I loved the lines, the shots, the immense feeling of need I felt while watching this commercial. I cannot wait for it to come to theatres.

“I have an army” … “We have a Hulk!” Just beautiful!

Superbowl Sunday: Foot Ball or Ads?

Superbowl Advertising and the let down that all Canadians get when they realize we don’t see the amazing and much anticipated commercials of those lucky Americans. But why do we anticipate that which we so happily avoid in our everyday lives? Don’t most people normally use the commercial break to get up from the couch, take a much needed bathroom break, or even channel flip to that other show that you just can’t miss? Instead on Superbowl Sunday you cling to that screen and beg the giant brands to spoon-feed you that advertising you normally avoid.

It’s a little shocking, but as a Canadian perhaps I am just not aware of the wonders that I am missing. Superbowl ads are expensive, they are kept secret for months leading up to the grand unveiling and then they are gone again, well unless you have the internet. I watched most of the Superbowl advertisements online for the first time, infact for the only times as I don’t have cable or satellite any longer, and I have to say some of the advertisements are a giant let down. I mean, so many people have waited and longed for these ads, and they were no different from the ads I would normally see on television, except for a select few that really differentiated themselves from the crowd!

I have or will be looking at a few of these superb advertisements on this blog and am going to be watching the 2012 Superbowl this Sunday and let you know if I am still disappointed by the hype.

And incase you were wondering, yes I will be using the game for my much needed bathroom breaks and socializing, cause really…football!

Enjoy your Superbowl and let me know what you think of the ads! Now, who is playing?

The Force or Asgard:

Last year during the Super bowl this adorable advertisement was premiered and really had Star Wars fans raving, which honestly has to be everyone.

And later that year Marvel released this, also adorable, parody.

Now, I don’t know how many Passats were sold in result to this advertisement but I do know that Volkswagen brought me to their dealership, and a year later I am a proud owner of a ‘Snap Orange New Beetle Turbo’.

Does a brand need to sell itself or its product? Volkswagen didn’t sell me on the Passat, though I did look at one, but their adorable Star Wars angle and generally great reviews brought me into their dealership when I was looking for my first car. And Marvel didn’t need to sell me on their product but I was overjoyed and more excited for the new movie when I saw the Thor parody to VW’s ‘The Force’ spot.

So two questions: The Force or Asgard? & Does a brand need to sell its product or itself?

Back to the Start

'Green is the New Green' according to Chipotle Mexican Grill. This ad was released at the 2011 Superbowl and it still gives me chills. The combination of Willie Nelson’s song “The Scientist” and Chipotle’s message is just awe inspiring. Chipotle works closely with farmers and ranchers to ensure that their operations create as small an impact as possible on the environment. They also strive to make each of their restaurant locations as ‘green’ as possible.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is staying current while also ‘Going Back to the Start’ of farming. They use social media to stay in contact with their consumers, they have a @ChipotleTruck1 that travels around Texas and you can find out exactly where it is headed next by following their Twitter feed. They also have a company Twitter feed @ChipotleTweets where they manage customer questions and concerns in an open forum.

Even their website is current and engaging. When you visit their website they have a store locator and a link to download their mobile app, but when you go deeper they have character and life on that screen. You can learn about the business through an interactive timeline. “We’ve Got History: The Life & Times of Chipotle” takes you from 1993 when the first Chipotle restaurant opened at a former Dolly Madison ice cream location, and brings you through their history of turning Green. In 2002 they started serving only free range chicken, and their fight in 2009 where Steve Ells (The CEO) testified before Congress to try and eliminate the use of antibiotics in ranching.

I hope more companies follow suit with Chipotle Mexican Grill and Steve, he is paving the way for a Greener future, and setting his brand apart from the greasy money grubbing fast food joints that don’t care about the environment and our world.

Showing Some Skin in Time Square

Ever wanted to watch a Peep Show in Time Square? Sounds too absurd, a pleasure left for older times? Not now that Daffy’s has come to town! Want to see a beautiful women remove 80% of her clothes while dancing for your pleasure? Come down to Daffy’s and see how much 80% off really is!

That is the call to action for a new clothing store that opened up in Time Square. Daffy’s (Italian for Savings) carried extensive selections of fashionable ladies, men and children’s clothing with an emphasis on the unique, especially international fashion. All of this at ‘irresistible’ prices. Daffy’s promise; “to provide exceptional value for its customers on sophisticated, high quality, fashionable merchandise, to be a good corporate citizen, to provide a rewarding work environment and of course, to have fun in what we do and to remain true to our irreverent heritage.”

So what did they do when they entered the competitive market of Time Square? They looked at its heritage. They had to find something to set them apart from the crowd, they needed to find something that Time Square didn’t have, or at least something it didn’t have anymore…Peep Shows!

Talk about an attention grabber, who wouldn’t stop to look at a gorgeous lady removing articles of clothing to sultry music, OK maybe the music is a little old fashioned, but you get the picture. Daffy’s found a way to make themselves sexy and standout from the crowd, but don’t let me bore you with the details any longer and take a look for yourself.

Do you think Daffy’s went too far? Or are you just glad their promotion was only 80% off!